Holder for policemen&#39;s clubs.



No. 7[0,236. Patented se tso, I902.

F. H. AUDLEY. HOLDER FUR POLIGEMENS BLUBS.

(Application file Sept. 14, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet Hulllllll l WITNESSES:

' INVENTOR EEMMMM rm I B gnaw F Patented Sept. 30, I902.

H, AUDLEY- HOLDER FOR PULIGEMEN'S CLUBS.

A lication filed Sept. 14, 1901.

2 Sheets-Sheet Z,

(No Model.)

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INVENTOR WITNESSES m: Noam: PETERS m1. PHOTO-LYING" WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS II. AUDLEY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HOLDER FOR POLICEMEN S CLUBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,236, dated September 30, 1902. Application filed September 14, 1901. Serial N0.'75,389. (N0 model.)

To (bZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. AUDLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holders for Policemens Clubs, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the belt attachments which are worn by policemen and like persons for carrying their clubs; and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved device of this class which will operate in a similar manner to existing devices of this general class, but from which the club may quickly be removed, particularly in emergencies of official service, a further objectbeing to provide such a device from which the club may be removed readily and speedily by the policeman or wearer thereof, but which will contrarily present especial obstacles to its being removed from the holder by any antagonist or by him be prevented from removal by the officer.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists, primarily, of a holder for policemens clubs comprising a ring formed of a plurality of sections pivotally mounted and having their meeting edges abutting by resilient pressure to form a loose and nonfrictional engaging ring or socket for the club, from which the club may be removed either by the usual vertical movement or by an outer diagonal movement; secondarily, it consists of such a holder formed of a resilient open ring having its edges normally abutting by resilient pressure and having its opening at one side, whereby the abutting edges, being at different distances from the fulcrum of the ring, will present varying resistances to the club, and, tertiarily, it consists of such a holder formed of a main fulcrum-section and two movable sect-ions pivoted to the edges thereof and having their ends abutting by resilient pressure, as stated.

Finally, my invention consists of such a holder provided with means whereby it may be locked to form an ordinary holder whenever required; and it further consists in more specific scope in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure l is a side elevation of a policemans-club holder embodying my invention and a portion of a beltfrom which it is suspended, the said holder containing a policemans club in operative position. Fig. 8 2 is a similar elevation showing the club in the act of removal. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the club-holder alone. Fig. 4is a side elevation thereof, partially broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, but showing a somewhat-modified form of construction. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another modified form of construction; and Figs. 7 and 8 are sections similar to Fig. 3, but showing different modifications.

In the practice of my invention I provide a holder which consists of a piece of heavy leather or similar material A folded centrally to form a loop B, through which a policemans belt 0 is adapted to be passed, and the edges of the leather strip or loop are stitched together along the sides and ends thereof to form a backing or receiving and suspending strip for the ring or socket D, in which the club is usually inserted. This ring or socket according to my invention is open at one point and is resilient and is formed with outwardly-directed and abutting edges D. This open construction of the ring and its resiliency I prefer to accomplish in the manner shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, in

which the ring is formed of three sections E, E, and E of stiff rigid metal pivoted together by means of pintles E around which, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper and lower portions of the edges of the three sections are turned or curled to form hinged portions E between which the pintles are surrounded by coiled springs F, connected by a loop F,

which bears against the section E, the opposite ends of the springs bearing upon the outside of the section E and E to maintain them normally closed. The edges of the several sections E E E are also turned around the coiled springs F in such manner that the edges of the section E overlap the edges of the sec- ICO tions E and E and limit the outwardpivotal swing-thereof beyond the amount necessary to permit the ring to open and enable the withdrawal of the club between the edges or jaws D.

In the broad or generic aspect of my invention it is essential that the edges D be in contactto form a complete ring of determinate diameter in which the club may be dropped or inserted by a vertical movement. In this aspect of the invention it will be seen from Figs. 7 and 8 that I may make the ring all in one piece of resilient metal G instead of the hinged sections. The latter, however, constitutes my preferred construction and when used it will be understood that my invention is not limited in other relatively minor particulars.

In Figs. 3 and 4: I have shown the device made of the hinged sections and opening at the center or perpendicularly to the general plane of the loop or supporting-strip A. In Fig. 5, however, I make the sections E and E of considerably different lengths, soas to constitute a short arm and a long arm, respectively, of the ring, and thereby offer different resistances to the club as it is moved outwardly between the jaws of the ring or clamp.

In Fig. 7 the central opening is shown and in Fig. 8 the side openin Both of these figures represent the device as made from thecentral resilient strip G.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a still further modification, in which the opening is on a diagonal line, as shown at H, leaving one section I short at the top and the-opposite section I long at the top, which is the point of commencement of removal of the club. Fig. 6 may be made either integral or pivoted, and Figs. 5 and 8 may therefore either of them be considered as different sections of Fig. 6.

In every case the ring is covered inside and out with a casing of leather J. I also provide means (applicable to any of the forms of the device, but shown only in Figs. 3 and 7) for locking the two jaws D together, so as to make an ordinary ring or socket out of the device whenever required. This locking device consists of a plate K, in which is pivoted a spring-loop L, the free end of which is provided with a central eye H, adapted to be snapped over a stud N. l

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the advantages of my invention will be manifest to all who are conversant with devices of this character.

The club-holder is worn upon a belt in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which represent the left-hand side of the belt, and it will be observed that the opening or line of division of the ring or socket is at the front of the wearer. The club hangs in the holder in the usual manner, as shown in Fig. 1, and rests loosely therein, as best shown in Fig. 5.

Since the jaws of the ring or socket are normally closed, the holder under ordinary con ditions operates in the same manner as the ring or socket now employed by police officers, and the club is dropped lightly into its socket, and by reason of the vertical closure of the socket there is no frictional pressure upon the club, and the abutment of the jaws of the socket maintains the said socket of a determinate size and form, so that the club is held by the said socket uniformly at all times in the same relatively loose or free position. When the ring or socket is locked by the loop L, the device forms a holder, in which the club may be vertically inserted and from which it cannot be otherwise than vertically removed. When the lock is released, however, or when it is not employed upon the device, the club may be removed by grasping it with theleft hand and forcingits handle or upper portion outwardlyin the manner indicated in Fig. 2,thus opening the'jaws D and permitting the club to pass between them, all in a single movement of the left hand, leaving the right hand free for contest with an antagonist. To remove a club vertically is not only slower, but, moreover, it is particularly difficult in devices of this. character, which are suspended from a belt. Generally two hands have to be used, one to hold down the-socket and the other to remove the club, and it mustbe drawn upwardly a distance equal to its length below the handle or guard thereof. If an antagonist seizes the bottom of the club below the socket or holder, it is more than difficult to take it out, particularly as the assailant may use but one hand for this purpose and have the other free, while the officer'must needs use two hands to his club. By the lateral or forward movement of the club it may be removed with one hand and any vertical pressure upon it will be downward rather than upward, and hence make removaleasier. Moreover, it is the handle portion which is moved forwardly, and as an antagonist usually seizes the club from behind his effort will not avail to prevent the quick removal of the club in the manner made possible by my invention.

While the opening or line of division of the jaws may be central, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, I much prefer the form or forms of construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8. Considering Figs. 2 and 3, for example, it will readily be seen that any attempt to remove the club from behind the officer must necessarily result in pressing the club into that portion of the socket which cannot open, and therefore rather tend to preventsuch unauthorized removal of the club than to enable it. When the ring is made of pivoted sections, as in Fig. 5, and a short arm and a long arm formed at the respective sides of the jaws, the club will in this action be seated against the pivoted end of the long arm and against its pivot.

I do not desire to confine myself to the exno, 7 1 NW act formation of parts and construction of details herein shown and described, as I conceive my invention to be novel in its plan and broad in its scope.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a belt of a support suspended from said belt, and a ring or socket carried by said support, said ring or socket comprising a section pivoted at one end, the pivot of said section being located at the circumference of and at the rear of said ring, and the opposite end of said section being located at the front of said ring, and a spring for normally holding said section in a closed position.

2. A holder for policemens clubs, said holder consisting of an attachment provided with a loop through which the belt is adapted to be passed, and a holder which is secured to said attachment, and which consists of two segmental spring-jaws,the free edges of which are normally held together by spring-power, said jaws being covered by leather or similar material inside and outside, and the abutting edges thereof being turned outwardly, and said jaws being hinged to a circular plate which is secured to said attachment, and provided with springs, which are connected with said hinges, and which bear upon the free edges of said jaws, and on the outer sides thereof.

3. A holder for policemens clubs, comprising a support, a curved plate secured to said support, and curved, spring-actuated arms jointed at their inner ends to the outer ends of said plate and with their outer ends separable, the said plate and arm forming in conjunction with each other-a circular band.

at. A holder for policemens clubs, comprising a support, a curved plate secured to said support, curved arms jointed at their inner ends to the outer ends of said plate, and springs between said plate and arms for closing the free ends thereof, said plate and arms forming in conjunction with each other acircular band.

5. A holder for policemens clubs, comprising a support, a curved plate secured to said support, curved arms jointed at their inner ends to the outer ends of said plate, springs between said plate and arms for closing the free ends thereof, said plate and arms forming in conjunction with each other a circularband, and a locking device for connecting the separable ends of said jaws.

6. In a holder for policemens clubs the combination with a belt of a support suspended from said belt and a divided ring carried by said support, the said ring having a pair of spring-actuated vertical jaws at the division in said ring, said jaws normally abutting to close said ring and a latch for locking said ring closed, whereby when said latch is released the club may be removed either vertically or laterally, and when said latch is fastened the club may be removed vertically only.

7. In a holder for policemens clubs the combination with a belt, of a support suspended from said belt, and a divided ring carried by said support, the said ring having a pair of spring-actuated vertical jaws at the division in said ring, said jaws normally abutting to close said ring, whereby a socket of definite form size and circular contour is maintained in order to hold the club uniformly and constantly with exactly the desired freedom of vertical removal while permitting its immediate lateral removal through the division in the ring.

8. In a holder for policemens clubs the combination with a support adapted to be suspended from a belt, of a divided ring carried by said support, the said ring having a pair of spring-actuated vertical jaws at the division on said ring, said jaws normally abutting to close said ring, the division of the ring and its abutting jaws being at the front of the ring or socket whereby the club is removed by a forward movement of its handle and will in any attempted rearward movement be seated in the undivided portion of the ring or socket. 4

9. A policemans-club holder consisting of a ring or socket formed of a main fulcrum section and two sections pivoted thereto and having their ends normally and resiliently directed toward one another.

10. A policemans-club holder consisting of a ring or socket formed of a main fulcrumsection and two sections pivoted thereto, and having their ends normally and resiliently directed toward one another, one of the sections being longer than the other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of September, 1901.

FRANCIS I-I. AUDLEY.

Witnesses:

F. A. STEWART, F. F. TELLER. 

